Detroit Lions: Do wins really mean anything at this point?

There is an incredible balancing act that needs to occur between the Lions finishing up this season and handling their business during the upcoming offseason. Because there is one final factor that needs to go the Lions way as well; the players need to ‘buy-in’ to Matt Patricia’s vision and system.

How do you tell a roster of players, the vast majority of which were acquired in one way or another by Bob Quinn, that despite the fact they have taken a big step backwards this year, they are one solid offseason away from being a playoff team if they ‘buy-in’ to Matt Patricia’s system?

They were a playoff team last year that fell just short of the playoffs, but the players are supposed to feel like better days are ahead of them under the new coaching regime that has led them through this disappointing season?

That’s why the remainder of the season is still important. While there will be definite turnover on this roster, those who remain have to ‘buy-in’ into Matt Patricia.

They have to realize that the effort he asks of them does have a purpose and does pay off.

Professional athlete’s are often looked at as diva’s and the players that were here under Jim Caldwell remember being playoff contenders for a coach that didn’t work them that hard. Now many of them view Matt Patricia as the guy who works them too hard and can’t get results.

For the Lions to get a couple more wins, much less win out, would certainly hurt their draft position, but it would help the players that are here to ‘buy-in’ to Matt Patricia’s system which would help perpetuate that ‘buy-in’ to players that are acquired in the offseason.

Because here’s one more secret; players who care about winning don’t mind working as hard as Patricia works them if they believe it will help them become contenders.

So while this upcoming offseason will be important for Bob Quinn and the Lions to add the pieces they need, it will also be important that Matt Patricia learns from his mistakes this year and becomes the coach this franchise needs to get the most out of his players.

Creating the front office and sideline success needed to become contenders is vital, but they still need the players to ‘buy-in’ and do their job to get this franchise over the hump. If all of that happens, then things could look very different for the Detroit Lions next season.

If all that happens.